Strand and Hughbanks Dominate at the Speedway

It was a super hot Friday night at Dacotah Speedway on Friday, August 2nd. But that didn’t deter drivers, pit crews and fans from coming out and taking in one of the final races of the 2024 racing season.

The night kicked off with an IMCA Stock Car make-up feature from June 28th. Dylan Herner and Jason Meidinger led the field to the green flag. Meidinger took the early lead but Shawn Strand quickly worked his way to the front and challenged Meidinger for the lead. They raced door to door for several laps before Strand slipped by on lap four. Meidinger then fell into the clutches of Hunter Domagala. As they raced hard for second, Shawn Volk made it a three car battle. While racing for second, Domagala got loose and spun in front of the field with six laps to go. On the restart, Todd Carter passed Volk for second place and was all over Strand’s rear bumper. When the checkered flag waved, Shawn Strand held off Todd Carter for the victory. Shawn Volk finished a season best of third place. Casey Binstock narrowly edged Jason Berg for fourth place. 

When the green flag waved in the IMCA Sport Compact feature, it was a three car battle for the lead between points leader Alex Thompson, Krys Yost and Zach Hughbanks. An early caution regrouped the field and on the restart, it was a heated battle between Thompson and Hughbanks for the lead. Hughbanks, who has won four straight victories at Dacotah Speedway, slipped by Thompson on lap four. Thompson hung with Hughbanks and as they continued to battle hard for the lead, it allowed third place Benjamin Burke to reel them in. With four laps remaining, Burke passed Thompson for second place. However, Benjamin Burke would have to settle for second place. Alex Thompson crossed the finish line in third ahead of Kevin Perdue and Krys Yost. For the fifth time this season, Zach Hughbanks parked his race car in Dacotah Speedway victory lane. 

Pole sitter Brody Michaelsohn led early in the Hobby Stock feature while Barrett Herr and Dylan Sandberg battled for second behind him. Sandberg cleared Herr for second and reeled in the young Michaelsohn for the lead. Sandberg took the lead before an early caution regrouped the field. On the restart, Sandberg pulled away and it was a fierce battle for fourth between Josh Roehrich, Kelly Hoerner and Bill Hultberg. When Michaelsohn’s car suddenly slowed in front of the field, it allowed the points leader Bill Hultberg to shuffle into the second position. However, Hultberg didn’t have anything for the leader of Sandberg. Dylan Sandberg cruised to victory for the third time this season. Bill Hultberg finished second while Kelly Hoerner held off Joseph Feist and Barrett Herr at the finish line for third place. 

After a complete restart, Ryan Erdahl and Brandon Anderson battled for the lead in the INEX Legends feature. Using the highline around the ⅜ mile race track, Preston Martin wasted no time getting to the front and took the lead on lap seven. Martin started to pull away and it looked like he might cruise to an easy victory when a series of mid-race cautions regrouped the field. On the restarts, 12-time track champion, Donavin Wiest, challenged Martin on the low side of the track. As the laps wound down, they raced side by side for the win. When the checkered flag waved, Donavin Wiest edged Preston Martin by a nose to win his first Dacotah Speedway victory of the season. Casey Martin finished in third place. Dayton Olheiser, who started 13th, finished fourth ahead of Noah Madler. 

Outside pole sitter, Scott Gartner, grabbed the early lead from pole sitter. Jason Meidinger, in the IMCA Stock Car feature. As Gartner lead, Meidinger started to fade, losing positions to Jeremy Herr, Hunter Domagala and Marlyn Seidler. Domagala, who started sixth, passed Herr on lap five before an early caution erased Gartner’s lead over the field. On the restart, Domagala passed Gartner for the lead but Gartner hung with Domagala. They raced side by side for numerous laps. Trying to clear the position. Domagala tried to pull a slide job on Gartner but slid up the track, allowing Gartner to retake the lead with seven laps to go. Finding some extra speed along the highside of the track, Gartner started to pull away. After racing IMCA Stock Cars for several years, Scott Gartner crossed the finish line first for the first time in the IMCA Stock Cars. Hunter Domagala settled for second place. Casey Binstock and Shawn Strand made a last lap pass on Marlyn Seidler to finish third and fourth. 

In the final feature of the evening, veteran driver and racing legend, John Correll led early in the IMCA Modified feature. Rookie Shawn Keena passed Correll on lap two and quickly pulled away from the field. However, an early caution erased Keena’s lead. On the restart, Jeremy Keller motored to the front, bringing defending track champion, Mark Dahl with him. Despite a series of late race cautions, Keller and Dahl continued to battle hard for the feature victory. However, in the final laps, Jeremy Keller started to pull away and went on to win his second victory of the season. Mark Dahl finished second. Quentin Kinzley finished third while Shawn Strand finished fourth. Marlyn Seidler rounded out the top five.

TRI-ENERGY CENEX DRIVER OF THE NIGHT

Congratulations to Dayton Olheiser for earning Driver of the Night powered by our friends at Tri-Energy Cenex! Dayton takes home a $50 gift card to use on gas, snacks, and more at Cenex.

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